Where does “Willems” come from?
Willems derives from Anglo-Norman Willame, a form of the personal name William whose ultimate origin and meaning remain uncertain.
Ancestry of “Willems”, step by step
Willems traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English william
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | william | radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter W |
| 2 | Middle English | William | — |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | Willame | — |
| 4 | Old High German | Willahelm | William |
| 5 | Old High German | helm | helmet |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | helm | helmet |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |
via Dutch Willem
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Willem | — |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | willem | A male given name |
| 3 | Old Dutch | *Willihelm | — |